Firmware Upgrade Snafu.... HELP!

Netgear WGT624 wireless router.

GUI Interface has a 'Router Upgrade' option. It told me there was a new
version of firmware available. (IIRC 4.2.6 to 4.2.7)

I clicked on it and it began the process of the upgrade.

About half way through an error message popped up: 'timeout while trying
to connect to ip address <ipaddresshere>'

Now, I can't connect to the router.

I tried to reset to factory defaults, but still can't connect to the IP
address, nor can I connect to the default, 192.168.0.1

I called Netgear tech support. They told me that 'something happened
during the firmware upgrade and the router is gone.'


Any suggestions to re-load the firmware? I've tried everything I can
think of...

TIA,

-Bob

On Fri, 13 May 2005 16:17:31 -0500, Nick Beef
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Netgear WGT624 wireless router.

Which hardware version? The original WGT624 or the v2 mutation?

>GUI Interface has a 'Router Upgrade' option. It told me there was a new
>version of firmware available. (IIRC 4.2.6 to 4.2.7)

http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/wgt624.asp
If you downloaded and installed the firmware for the wrong hardware
version, you're probably toast.

>I clicked on it and it began the process of the upgrade.>
>About half way through an error message popped up: 'timeout while trying
>to connect to ip address <ipaddresshere>'

Oh-oh. Did you try to do it via the wireless link? If so, the
firmware upgrade always screws up because the new firmware
overscribbles the part of the firmware required to run the wireless.
You should always do firmware upgrades with a wired LAN CAT5 direct
connection.

>Now, I can't connect to the router.

Nice work.

>I tried to reset to factory defaults, but still can't connect to the IP
>address, nor can I connect to the default, 192.168.0.1

Setup the router with a wired LAN connection. Never mind the
wireless. Setup your Windoze client for a static IP address of:
IP address = 192.168.0.100
Netmask = 255.255.255.0
Gateway = 192.168.0.1
Never mind the DNS stuff.
Power cycle the router and immediately start pinging the router with:
ping 192.168.0.1
Do you get any responses? If not, try all 4 LAN ports in turn.
Sometimes it works only on one port. If it returns a ping, there's a
chance that the TFTP server is still functional. Find a TFTP client
somewhere on the web and use it to upload a fresh copy of the
firmware.

>I called Netgear tech support. They told me that 'something happened
>during the firmware upgrade and the router is gone.'

Translation: They want to sell you a new router.

>Any suggestions to re-load the firmware? I've tried everything I can
>think of...

I've loaded new firmware through a JTAG serial port on other routers,
but that may not be possible here.


--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831.336.2558 voice http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
# (E-Mail Removed)
# (E-Mail Removed) AE6KS

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
(E-Mail Removed) says...
> On Fri, 13 May 2005 16:17:31 -0500, Nick Beef
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >Netgear WGT624 wireless router.
>
> Which hardware version? The original WGT624 or the v2 mutation?

V2. Just bought it a bit ago.


>
> >GUI Interface has a 'Router Upgrade' option. It told me there was a new
> >version of firmware available. (IIRC 4.2.6 to 4.2.7)
>
> http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/wgt624.asp
> If you downloaded and installed the firmware for the wrong hardware
> version, you're probably toast.

Nope. I went throught the 'Router Upgrade' on the GUI. (I ASSUME the
router it's self would pick the correct version.)


>
> >I clicked on it and it began the process of the upgrade.>
> >About half way through an error message popped up: 'timeout while trying
> >to connect to ip address <ipaddresshere>'
>
> Oh-oh. Did you try to do it via the wireless link? If so, the
> firmware upgrade always screws up because the new firmware
> overscribbles the part of the firmware required to run the wireless.
> You should always do firmware upgrades with a wired LAN CAT5 direct
> connection.

I used LAN port 1, with CAT5.


>
> >Now, I can't connect to the router.
>
> Nice work.


That's really nice of you....

I follow the directions of the product to the letter, something screws
up, and you're assuming I'm a dumbass and tried to upgrade over the
wireless. Thanks for the help.


>
> >I tried to reset to factory defaults, but still can't connect to the IP
> >address, nor can I connect to the default, 192.168.0.1
>
> Setup the router with a wired LAN connection. Never mind the
> wireless. Setup your Windoze client for a static IP address of:
> IP address = 192.168.0.100
> Netmask = 255.255.255.0
> Gateway = 192.168.0.1
> Never mind the DNS stuff.
> Power cycle the router and immediately start pinging the router with:
> ping 192.168.0.1
> Do you get any responses?

Nope.

> If not, try all 4 LAN ports in turn.
> Sometimes it works only on one port. If it returns a ping, there's a
> chance that the TFTP server is still functional. Find a TFTP client
> somewhere on the web and use it to upload a fresh copy of the
> firmware.
>
> >I called Netgear tech support. They told me that 'something happened
> >during the firmware upgrade and the router is gone.'
>
> Translation: They want to sell you a new router.

They want me to return the router and get my money back. It's still
under warranty.

What I'm trying to avoid is a trip back to Fry's....


-Bob

On Sat, 14 May 2005 10:31:50 -0500, Nick Beef
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>> >GUI Interface has a 'Router Upgrade' option. It told me there was a new
>> >version of firmware available. (IIRC 4.2.6 to 4.2.7)

4.2.7 is the beta version:
http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/WGT624v2.asp

>Nope. I went throught the 'Router Upgrade' on the GUI. (I ASSUME the
>router it's self would pick the correct version.)

That's a fair assumption with anything that's been made in the last
few years and uses a GUI to upload new firmware. Some of them do
checksums on the flash image to be sure. No clue how Netgear does it
on the WGT624v2. Also, that wasn't always the case. Lots of TFTP
based router upgrades would try to install just about anything and
make a mess if you use the wrong image. However, along with version
checking, most modern routers also have a seperate TFTP server to deal
with corrupted flash images.

>I follow the directions of the product to the letter, something screws
>up, and you're assuming I'm a dumbass and tried to upgrade over the
>wireless. Thanks for the help.

Read my posting again. I *ASKED* you if you did it over the wireless.
I didn't accuse you of anything. I usually supply a checklist of
common mistakes and suggestions. However, you did make one obvious
mistake. You bought it at Fry's.

>Nope.

Bummer. If you wanna take a remote chance, it's possible the TFTP
server is working but ping does not respond. Preset your IP address
as previously suggested. Find a TFTP client and get it ready to send
the firmware image. I suggest you use 4.2.6 instead of 4.2.7. Power
it on and immediately select whatever the TFTP client wants to start
the upload. It's a risk, but some routers do it this way.

I dunno if the WGT624v2 has a reset button, but sometime sitting on
the button for a rediculously long time (60 seconds?) will kick in
some kind of recovery routine, where the TFTP server works. You can
test it with:
ping -t 192.168.0.1
while you pound on the reset button.

Incidentally, the last time I had to return something to Fry's, it
only took about an hour, and although the replacement device was
allegedly unopened, the driver cdrom was missing. Good luck.

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 AE6KS 831-336-2558

Nick Beef wrote:

> They want me to return the router and get my money back. It's still
> under warranty.
>
> What I'm trying to avoid is a trip back to Fry's....
>
>
> -Bob
>


If it were me, I make the trip, assuming it's within 15 days of
purchase, or you bought an exchange warranty from Fry's.

If you're still determined to make this work, download the firmware
upgrade file directly from Netgear's website (disable the router and go
direct through your modem), then try the install again. Hook the router
back up connected directed to your machine via a cat 5 cable. Disconnect
the modem from the router and make sure you have no wireless cards or
adapters currently connected to other machines (turn 'em off). Go to the
location where you downloaded the firmware upgrade file and try again.

I've been successful reflashing a Linksys Wireless router using this
method, although the odds of success will never be 100%.

Jeff Liebermann wrote:

> Incidentally, the last time I had to return something to Fry's, it
> only took about an hour,

That's about right. They like to maintain a nice queue. Keeps the
customer service people from overusing the washroom facilities.